Quote Originally Posted by gary70 View Post
I saw a "demonstration" at The Art of Shaving" store- ok- so I'm game and here I am- found this group through YouTube. I did NOT yet buy a razor from The Art of Shaving- too expensive, and I need to learn some skills first...

ok- so I find this barber near my home- advertises that he's a Master Barber and can show me how to shave. Gave me a quick lesson. He told me to buy a straight razor- the disposable kind- the one you can change blades. Showed me how to shave on a Kiwi first- told me to practice on the Kiwi at home, then on a balloon, and then on my face. (I ordered a cheap disposable staright razor off ebay- should be here any day) Says when I get good, I should then buy a more expensive razor from the art of shaving (or elsewhere). The barber said he would show me how to hone it, strop it, etc...

How does this advice sound?
I was chatting with a barber who told me that he had also learned by this progression. Keep one thing in mind: this is a barber's training. Barbers are shaving other people, so it won't do to keep cutting them until you get it right. If you feel like going ahead and trying to shave, and you don't mind some nicks, go ahead. If you'd like to build up to shaving yourself and learning the soft touch, go ahead, it won't hurt you to start more experienced. Keep in mind though that when a barber practices on a kiwi or balloon, it is for shaving on others, getting the proper angles when you're shaving your own face is something that you can only learn shaving your own face. The ways in which you will need to move your hands and arms will be different from on the kiwi or balloon.

On the up side though, if you learn to shave others like a barber, it's probably a good way to turn others on to straights!